Chinese Red-Braised Pork Belly

Quick answer

Total time: 100 min
Level: Medium
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients: 7

About this dish

Hong shao rou, red-braised pork belly, originated in the Suzhou region before spreading across China to become one of the country's defining braised dishes.

Cubed pork belly is briefly boiled to remove impurities, then the pot is dried and sugar is melted alone until it reaches a deep amber caramel. The pork returns to the pot to coat every surface before dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, Shaoxing rice wine, fresh ginger slices, and star anise are added. Covered and simmered over low heat for sixty to ninety minutes, the fat layers slowly dissolve into the braising liquid while the lean meat becomes tender enough to break apart with chopsticks without any pressure. The sauce reduces to a thick, mahogany-lacquered glaze that carries layers of sweetness, salt, and the faintly medicinal warmth of star anise. Served over plain steamed rice with a generous spoonful of the sauce poured over the bowl, the dish transforms the simplest grain into a complete and deeply satisfying meal.

Ingredients

servings

IngredientAmountUnit

pork belly700 gg

dark soy sauce2 tbsptbsp

soy sauce2 tbsptbsp

sugar1½ tbsptbsp

ginger1 tbsptbsp

rice wine2 tbsptbsp

water600 mlml

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Instructions

Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.

6 steps

1

Heat

Blanch 700 g pork belly in boiling water for 5 minutes, then lift it out.

Rinse away foam and blood residue, pat the surface dry, and cut the meat into 4 cm pieces.
2

Control

Empty the pot and dry it completely before adding 1.5 tbsp sugar.

Melt it over low heat without stirring, swirling only if needed, and stop just before the caramel turns a deep amber.
3

Control

Before the caramel burns, add the pork belly and roll the pieces over medium-low heat.

When the outside looks evenly glossy and brown, add 2 tbsp dark soy sauce and 2 tbsp soy sauce.
4

Control

Pour in 2 tbsp rice wine, 1 tbsp ginger, and 600 ml water, scraping the bottom to release any caramelized bits.

Bring it to a boil, skim off foam, then cover the pot.
5

Control

Reduce to low heat and braise slowly for 60 to 90 minutes.

Turn the pork every 20 minutes, and if the liquid drops too far, add a little water so the sauce does not scorch.
6

Finish

When the pork separates easily with chopsticks, uncover and reduce over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.

Serve once the sauce clings thickly and the meat has a deep reddish-brown shine, ideally over steamed rice.

Practical Cooking Checks

The cues that matter most while cooking.

Key technique: Hong shao rou coats pork belly cubes in a mahogany glaze made from caramelized rock sugar.
Finish cue: When the outside looks evenly glossy and brown, add 2 tbsp dark soy sauce and 2 tbsp soy sauce.
Avoid this: Control heat at caramel stage to avoid bitterness.